Wagon-brake.



No- 635,358. Patented Oct. 24,. was. a. A. STARK.

WAGON BRAKE.

(Application filed. May 20, 1899.)

(No Model.)

improved automatic brake mechanism, parts NITED STATES ATENT Prion.

GUSTAF A. STARK, OF KENSINGTON, MINNESOTA.

WAGON- BRAKE.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,358, dated October24, 1899.

Application filed May 20,1899.

T0 at 2071,0772, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUsTAF ABEL STARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kensington, in the county of Douglas and State of Minnesota,have invented a new and useful Automatic Brake for WVagons and LikeVehicles, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to automatic brakes for wagons; and it consists inthe construction and novel combination of the parts of the same, as willbe hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The object of my invention is to produce an automatically-operated brakefor wagons which when the wagon to which it is applied is descending ahill will automatically apply the brake-shoes to the tires of the wheelsof the vehicle, and thereby retard the descent of the vehicle throughthe force exerted on the neck-yoke, and when the vehicle has reached thelevel ground at the bottom of the hill will release the force exerted onthe brake and draw the whiffietrees forward on the wagontongue, andthereby release the brake-shoes from contact with the tires of saidwagonwheels by the pull of the team on the whiffletrees, which areconnected with the brake mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of myimproved automatic brake mechanism applied to the running-gear of awagon. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my of the vehicle-tongue beingbroken away near its front and rear ends. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan viewof the improved automatic brake mechanism, showing the push-bar G inplace and connecting the neck-yoke with the levers or equalizers I I,the outer ends of which are pivoted to the inner ends of the pivotedlevers H H and the latter by link-bars J J to the inner ends of theadjustable levers G 0, provided at their outer ends with the brakeshoesF.

Referring now to the drawings, the same reference letters refer to thesame parts throughout the several figures.

A denotes the transversely-disposed sta tionary bar, which is secured tothe lower faces of the rearwardly-diverging attaching- Serial No.717,673. (No model.)

The brake-levers O G are provided intermediate their ends with holes E,which are adapted to be brought into alinement with corresponding holesE at opposite ends of the stationary bar A to receive the bolts D forpivoting them to place. The inner ends of said brake-levers O O areconnected by short link-bars J J with the outer ends of levers H H,fulcrumed at their centers by bolts K K to the tongue-braces through theresting-block L. The brake-applying and brake-releasing bar G is held toplace, so that it can move longitudinally along the lower face of thewagon-tongue, by staples driven into the lower face of said wagon-tongueat suitable intervals over the said bar G.

At its front end the wagon-tongue is provided with a clevis S and on theunder side immediately in rear of said clevis with aring T. Theneck-yoke is connected through a link, ring, or other suitable meanswith the front end of the brake-applying and brakereleasing bar G, whichpushes back the levers I I and operates the series of connections H J Oand applies the brake-shoes to the wheel-tires.

The slot U made in the brace M, secured upon the wagon-tongue near itsrear end, is alined with a similar slot made longitudinally in thewagontongue immediately beneath the slot U. The key-bolt V passes downthrough these alined slots and permits the longitudinal movement of thepush-bar G necessary to apply the brake-shoes when said bar G is pushedbackward and to release the brake-shoes when said push-bar G is drawnforward by the team.

When the wagon is descending a hill, the backward push begins with theneck-yoke and pushes the bar G, levers H H, and lov ers C 0, allconnected by the levers I I and arms J J, and forces the brake-shoesagainst the tires on the front wheels of the wagon and effectuallybrakes said Wheels during the entire time the wagon is making thedescent of the hill. When the strain is released from the neck-yoke andthe pull comes upon the key-bolt V, the latter moves forward with thebar G and the brake shoes F become released from engagement with thewheel-tires.

The pivot-link P, secured to the wagonarms by four bolts B, Figs. 2 and3.

tongue, is designed to be thrown back over the ring or link Q to holdthe push-bar G in place and preventit from operating the brake when itis desired to back the wagon.

The ring Q is connected to the strap N. The belt V passes through theslot U in the plate M and through openings provided therefor andconnects the strap N, the whifi'ietrees, and the push-bar G.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

In an automatic wagon-brake, the co1nbination with the front axletreeand front wheels of the running-gear of a wagon, of the wagonpoleprovided with a longitudinal slot between the rear side braces securedto said wagon-pole; the resting-block I) secured to the lower faces ofsaid side braces; the transverse stationary bar secured to the lowerfaces of said side braces in front of said restin g-block the levers O,0 provided with brakeshoes and pivoted to the upper face of thetransverse stationary bar; the levers II, II pivoted to thelower facesof the resting-block; the links .I, J connecting the outer ends of thelevers H, H to the inner ends of the levers U, C; the push-bar G looselysecured to the lower face of the wagon-pole by staples driven over itinto said wagon-pole; the neckyoke connected with the front end of thepush-bar G; the levers I, I connecting the rear end of said push-bar Gwith the inner ends of the levers H, H; the ring Q connected with thestrap N and with the push-bar G; and the link I hinged to the wagon-poleand adapted to engage the ring Q for locking the brakes in the unappliedposition, substantially as specified.

G. A. STARK. Witnesses:

P. OLSON, ERIC SLETTEN.

